Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Information Network (IBIN)

Forums

	Public Forums
	Private Forums

WHAT is a Forum?

A forum is an electronic bulletin-board which can be accessed using a Web browser. Each forum has a particular focus, which is set down in a charter which sets the limits on the kinds of discussions that take place there. In a forum, you can enter questions and observations using a submission form, and then post them to a discussion page by clicking on a submission button.

When you visit the forum, you can:

create a new topic for discussion
reply to comments made by other users
search for words or phrases in the archive of postings

The main advantage of web-based forums over electronic mail distribution lists is that you can visit and read or reply to messages at your convenience rather than have all messages forwarded to your mailbox. Discussions are also threaded, which means that topics and all of their responses are clustered together, regardless of when they were posted.

WHAT is a Public Forum?

The Public Forums are open to anyone who wants to join the circle and agrees to follow the following ethical guidelines:

• Follow the charter of the Forum. When formed, each forum has a theme and has a charter that sets the acceptable content for messages.
• Be respectful of others. IBIN is a neutral forum for discussion, and it is expected that there will be disagreements on many of the issues. Forum members are expected to focus on issues and not harass others.
• Post carefully. Only post information that you have the right to post, and avoid revealing knowledge that is sacred or cultural property.
• Do not post business notices. Unless the charter for the Forum allows it, these forums are for the discussion of issues, and are not the place for commercial activity.

WHAT is a Private Forum?

Private Forums are created by indigenous groups for private discussions on particular issues or events related to biodiversity and natural resources issues. You need a password to get into these forums, and membership is determined by the groups that have formed them. If you are interested in participating, you should contact the administrator of each forum you want to enter.

Because these discussions are meant to be private, and often cover sensitive issues, participants are required to abide by the guidelines of the founding charters for each forum. These guidelines may restrict the redistribution or discussion of the information contained within the forums, and users violating these guidelines will be removed from the user lists.

Public Forums

• Indigenous Peoples and the Convention on Biological Diversity
• Indigenous Fisheries
• Passing of the Elders

Private Forums

• Indigenous Peoples Aquatic Biodiversity Working Group
  Administrator: Steve Robinson (srobinso@nwifc.wa.gov) Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

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Revised: December 18, 2003.